Happy Birthday, America!!

Landon is very aware of birthdays, and what they mean. 1)You get "bigger" and 2) You get presents. He loves birthday celebrations and we can often overhear him singing "Happy Birthday to you..." at random times. With May and June just passing, we have celebrated over 10 birthdays in our circle of family and friends.  Yesterday, we got to celebrate our country's birth, a day filled with lots of fun!

I ran in the Pitman 4 miler for the 2nd year in a row.

Landon joined me for a few blocks!

Right in front of me, you'll see my long-time running partner, Shannon, and her daughters, Lindsey, and Christin. Hooray for Christin who ran the last half with us!!

Then we walked to the Pitman parade to join my family

Grandmom, Mom (Nana), and Ethan

We spent the rest of the day with our friends and their children...

wow, we have a lot of kids! :)

Yeah, mom, I have a woodchip in my mouth...so what, it's my 1st 4th of July!

I'll close this post with a little video I took of Landon...



Happy Birthday, America!!

Cousin time!!!

This past Memorial Day (I know, I know...I'm a tad behind in updates...shh! don't tell!) we got such an amazing treat. Jill (Greg's sister, for those of you who don't know) flew in with Jackson- OUR 1ST NEPHEW!- for the weekend. Knowing they were coming in, we had kept our calendars free and clear. All we had on the agenda for the week was Jill & Jackson. Which sounds funny for two reasons now that I am thinking of it... 1) Jack & Jill  2) Jill Jackson was Jill's name for...well, up until last September! It was just funny to keep saying Jill Jackson visit. :-) 

They both flew in on Friday night, and the boys were already in bed. So, we met them over at mom and dad's around 7:30 for a huge, yummy breakfast. It felt like Christmas!  I couldn't help it...I walked in, and cried. Nope, not the emotion I was expecting either. But, it was a happy, bottled up for 3 1/2 months excitement kind of cry. I wa sso happy to hold this adorable, teeny, tiny little nephew of mine! It brought back the emotions too, of how fast this year with Ethan has gone. I can't believe he was THAT little!!  Our weekend was so nice and we enjoyed every minute we got to spend holding, kissing, and smiling back at our nephew!

Our tearful meeting. :)

3 cousins!!

Ethan checking out Jackson!

Grammie meeting her 3rd Great Grandson!

Jackson meeting Aunt Linda,

and Aunt Barbara!

Jill and Jackson (LOVE!)

Uncle Neal, Aunt Denise and their 3 GREAT nephews!

Silly cake time!!

Aunt Faith, Landon, and Jackson

(2 outta 3 ain't bad!)

Jackson checking out his Uncle Greg

Cousin photo time!

...courtesy of Aunt Faith!!

.Our newest Jackson family photo!

(minus Drew and Marissa)

It's Summertime!

I have really, REALLY enjoyed this past week off. I had seriously been on a countdown for the end of school since Easter. Last summer was exciting too, but it was jam packed with planning and preparing for Ethan's arrival. I feel like this is the summer I can catch up on little things on the house and take a once a week day trip with the boys. I have been really looking forward to this summer...and IT.IS.HERE!


Here is a little bit of what we've enjoyed this past week!

We started our week by going on a date...and all day date! It was a lot of fun!

Kenny Chesney/Tim McGraw concert at the Lincoln Financial Field!

Then...came, Father's Day! Greg enjoyed playing softball in the morning for a team he hasn't been able to play with for over a year. Then, we BBQ'd at his parents house. Yumm-O! Ethan had his first taste of Jersey corn, and Landon and Daddy spent the afternoon playing light sabers. It never ends!

It's been HOT here, so setting up the pool was a MUST!

Running and diving is right up Landon's alley!

We went out for ice cream tonight! See the size of my ice cream? Yeah...this is why I run...to eat. Pathetic, I know. :)

MMM!!!!

Baby Bird (AKA Ethan) loved his Vanilla Soft Serve!

"What you talkin' about Willis" (AKA Landon) loved...and wore his chocolate cone!

Can't you tell how much he loves having his picture taken?!?

Up next on our summer agenda....the Ocean City beach and boardwalk! We are taking the boys tomorrow, and hoping that the PM Scattered T-storms stay clear of us!

PS- stay tuned for long overdue posts on our recent visit from Jill and Jackson (my adorable, ever growing nephew!) as well as Ethan's Dedication and Landon's last soccer game. They deserve their own posts!

The Little Gym Finale

Today was Landon's grand finale (for now, at least) for the Little Gym. For those of you who aren't familiar with The Little Gym, it's a place you can take your child to for organized physical and social development classes. When we first brought Landon home, the CHOP doctors had advised that we do some sort of class that worked on motor skills that he may have been below "age appropriate" on. Thus, the beginning of the Little Gym classes for our family.

Since January 2011, Landon has been going to the Little Gym once a week. Up until this past January, he was enrolled in a "Parent and Me" type class, where we did the class alongside him and were responsible for keeping him on task. In January, he was promoted to the independent class, where we had the opportunity to watch him through the windows. I must say, looking back, that seeing your child participate in a group without you has its most prideful moments, and its most embarrassing. There were times where other kids were having meltdowns, and my boy was not bothered in the least- he was "tracking the speaker" (my teacher terminology inserted here) despite. Then, there were those times where my stinker would hop up, and run clear across the room to a different activity when he wasn't supposed to. When Miss Megan or Miss Kristy called him back, 99% of the time, he listened. But, when Mr. George tried, Landon just thought it was a game of chase. It took everything within me not to go through the door at times. :) But, all part of the learning process. It did get me thinking....maybe cameras in my classroom would be a good idea (if the parents watched them)...having a parent aware of how their child is behaving could really be helpful! :)

Anyway, I sort of got off track there....  Here is a video I put together of all the pictures and video clips from today's grand finale show. I have to admit, I had to stifle back my happy tears at the very beginning of the show when I thought of where Landon was just 2 years ago, and where he is now.

Thank you...!

Just in case you're wondering just how PRICELESS adoption is, consider this as a reminder...

While cleaning off the refrigerator this past Saturday of all the magnets and clutter, Landon caught sight of this picture:

The following conversation transpired:

Landon: "Mom, look! Landon in Russia!"



Me: "Yes, you are!"

Landon: "Where my mommy? Where my daddy go?"

Me: "We weren't there with you yet. This is the picture we saw when we first found out about you. As soon as we found out, we went to Russia as soon as we could, and we scooped you up, and brought you home with us because we loved you SOOO much!"

Landon: "Thank you, Mom, for coming get Landon!" (said in his most matter of fact, adorable voice!)

I will NEVER EVER forget this moment. I almost cried such happy tears at his response and understanding. I couldn't help but to just pick him up and hug him. I forgot about the fridge for a moment. I just held him and thought about how much our boy's life has changed, and how grateful we are for him. I also couldn't help but think about all the others in that room there with him that we couldn't scoop up and bring home with us. Sigh...my heart continues to break. All I can do is pray that God will send families to bring those children home too. And, I can also do what I can here, right now, to make sure those families have what they need to be able to do so....  Which brings me to the reason for my post....

With a thousand (a slight over estimation) other things to do, I decided to peak at my blogger dashboard, and something that I feel is of immediate re-posting came up on my screen:

PLEASE HELP US SAVE THE ADOPTION TAX CREDIT

With having literally (NOT an over estimation) just paid...okay, still paying...almost 2/3 of our entire house's cost in adoption expenses since 2010, we know first hand just how important and valuable the adoption tax credit is for adoptive families. The credit (+ God's miraculous provision) has literally enabled us to bring our 2nd son, Ethan, home. With the adoption tax credit set to expire at the end of December 2012, it is extremely important that we petition our authorities to consider extending this invaluable credit. A fellow blogger has made it super easy to do, by inserting a pre-written letter and a link to your Senator's office. Please, Please please take a minute to do this. Here is the link to my blogger friend's post.

http://crazybeautifullife318.blogspot.com/2012/06/please-help-us-save-tax-credit-it-only.html


I thank you for taking the time to petition. I thank you on behalf of all the thousands of families who have been able to bring home an orphaned child because that financial assistance was made available to them. And, I thank you on behalf of the thousands of children who are in homes tonight, and now have the love of a family. And, I thank you on behalf of the millions of orphans who will have a better chance at being united with their forever family. We may not be able to go bring home every/any orphan...but, we can all copy and paste an already created e-mail into our Senator's Contact page.

Thank you for your help!!

Language Leap

I have found myself laughing a LOT lately at Landon. Okay, that sounds really mean. What I mean is, I have been laughing a lot at what he has been saying lately. He is talking a lot NON STOP  these days!

We have entered the "why" phase. The phase where everything...I mean, EVERYTHING is questioned. "But, why you go this way, mom?" "Why this not a good place?" "Why Landon no like veggies, mom? and, the list goes on, and on, and on.

I have also never heard, "Mom" as much as I have in the past few weeks. For some reason, Landon has been saying my name, over, and OVER! Each time, he calls out to me, "Mom!" I reply, "Yes, Landon?" and for some reason, half the time, he just repeats, "Mom!" again! and again! And, sometimes, finally, after 3 or 4 "mom's!" I get a WHY question. Sigh... :) I am honestly smiling as I recall so many moments like these the past few weeks:

"Mom, why Poppop beating us? That not very nice." (Said from the backseat as we follow Poppop to the restaurant for Uncle Chris' birthday dinner)

While driving to run the other day, our radio was going in and out with a bad signal. Landon says, "Why that song stop, Mom? Need get new blue car, mom." LOL ...and yeah right!

After helping Daddy get ready for work, putting on his work boots, work belt, etc., Landon comes running into the bedroom as I am getting ready for work, and says, "That your work bra, Mom?"  Hilarious!

I have saved the funniest one of the week for last....

When reading the story, "Saul to Paul" in Landon's toddler Bible, we came to this page (where Saul is at the house in Damascus waiting to receive his sight back from Annanias)...

And, Landon says, "Why hims in time out, Mom?"

Gotta love the mind of a 3 year old!! 

Spring Sports Sensation

Spring feaver is in the air! I have been on a serious school countdown this year. It starts when I leave for work in the morning, and I say to Landon, "26 school days left until Mommy gets to stay home with you every day!" And, then an hour or so later when I remind my students how many days of school are left (followed up by a short speach about finishing the race strong...just like one of my favorite teachers always said to me), assuring them that I love coming to teach them everyday, but that I am probably just as excited as they are to have the summer off!  (Sidenote here...I am in full NJ ASK prep mode and have used the alliterative title strategy on purpose...I can NOT WAIT for this coming week's testing to be OVER!! Personally, it's the least favorite part of my job, and I am now dreaming about the NJ ASK ...okay, I'm done my rant) ;)

We have been super busy around here lately. It seems like there is some event we need to be at 4 out of 5 nights of the week. At least 2 nights each week, we go to our church softball team's games. Greg is the coach (and player), and Uncle Chris plays too! Then, we have Cubbies on Wednesdays, and soccer on Fridays/Wednesdays. Not to mention I try to run with the boys 2-3 days after school as well. That all adds up to busy week, and neglected housework. :/ I am trying to remember the advice a wise friend and mentor has given to me.... "The housework and laundry will always be there...your little ones will not." That being said, I am taking advantage of the good weather, and really enjoying spending time with the boys!

Landon considers himself one of the players. He watches most (if not all) of the game, and even runs along the fence, down the 3rd base line as each batter runs to first. It is so cute to watch! I had to talk to him about trying to stay in the spectator area more, and giving the players more space over by their bench. I guess my lecture got through at some level: One of the players decided to come sit on the bleachers to take a breather (luckily, it was one of my best friends' husband), and Landon goes over, and yells at him, saying, "No sit here! Spectators sit here! Players need to sit on players bench!" Needless to say, the entire specator area broke into laughter, and Mr. Jason moved back to "his spot." :-)  Landon's infatuation with the softball players doesn't stay on the field. He refers to them all the time. "Players don't eat dinner, mom." or "Players no do time out." I've had to turn things like that into my benefit...."Landon, players can't go to the game unless they eat all their vegetables. They need to be strong to hit the ball reaaalllly far." (so far, "the players" motivational strategy is working!)

As you can see, Landon has made a few friends on his soccer team!

Um, Landon... it's soccer, not hockey, dude! ;)

Whatever it takes!

My handsome spectator!

Breakfast date with Aunt Wawa at CFA!! :)

The monkey I go bananas over!

(stolen borrowed from Aunt Faith)

A fun trip to the zoo with our cousins!!!

Yes, I am crazy taking 6 kids to the zoo. Couldn't have done it without you, Hannah! :)

Ready to run with Mommy and Aunt Sarah

Ethan now zooms around in his walker!

 He is constantly bumping into Dakota (poor puppy girl!) and over my toes! He loves to stop and stare up at the refrigerator at all the pictures of our family. He also likes to push the bottom drawer of the dishwasher in and out too!

That's all for tonight, folks... this tired mama needs her sleep!!